Stop Diarrhea Naturally

Natural Herbs can be Safe for the Elderly

There are many ways you can try to stop diarrhea naturally with the use of supplements and herbal remedies.

As with any other medications, please make sure to check with your loved one’s doctor before adding any supplement to their routine medications.

Just because these supplements and herbal remedies do not require a prescription does not mean they are harmless and don’t have the potential of creating unwanted side effects.

Herbal supplement can be very potent. You may need to adjust the dosage to compensate for other medications they are on or any disease process that may be going on, including any liver and kidney issues.

Remember that most medications dosages are for a 150 pound healthy male. So if your Grandmother is 98 pounds and has kidney issues, you will need to adjust the medication dose accordingly.

I would recommend starting at a ¼ to ½ of the recommended dosage and slowly increasing until desired affects are reached without side effects. Always follow the recommendations of their physician.

Herbal Remedies to Stop Diarrhea

There are several herbal remedies that can help to stop diarrhea naturally. You may want to review this list and suggest these options to their primary care provider.

Most traditional physicians are not going to recommend these options initially, but most are also willing to attempt natural treatment if it is suggested by the patient or family.

START LOW AND GO SLOW

Always start to with the lowest dose and adjust upwards slowly to prevent uncomfortable or dangerous side effects.

• Psyllium: Psyllium is a natural bulking agent that helps the body absorb water from the stools. The nice thing about psyllium is that it can help with both constipation and be used to stop diarrhea. Because it is a bulking agent, you must make sure they are drinking plenty of fluids to prevent intestinal blockage.


• Bilberry: Bilberry is a berry similar to the blueberry and is quite delicious to eat. It may be difficult to find fresh, but it is also dried and made into a tea and is also sold as a juice. Do not use bilberry if your loved one is on medications for blood clotting, such as Coumadin (warfarin)or medications to treat diabetes.


• Blackberry Tea: Blackberry tea can be very helpful in the treatment of diarrhea. It contains high levels of tannin, which works as an astringent and “tightens” the gastrointestinal tract. The tea can be consumed up to six times daily during episodes of acute diarrhea. If blackberry tea is not available, try adding blackberry jelly (not jam) to their diet.


• Soothing Tea: Make a soothing tea, using 1 tsp of powder or leaves to a cup of boiling water. Any herb that contains tannin will help, including marshmallow root, fenugreek, agrimony or chamomile. These teas will help stop diarrhea and at the same time, help keep your loved one hydrated during acute bouts of diarrhea.


• Probiotics: Probiotics work by increasing the number of “good” bacteria in the gut and creating the balance that the body needs. Good probiotics should be found in the refrigerator section of you local supermarket or health food store. Seal the lid tight once you have opened the bottle and store it in the refrigerator. The active cultures found in probiotics have been shown to shorten episodes of diarrhea and lessen the discomfort. Although yogurt contains some live cultures, you should probably avoid milk products during acute episodes.

Cautions When Using Herbal Remedies

Always consult with their physician before using any of these natural herbal remedies. Many have side effects that may interact with their current medications.

This caution is especially important if your elderly loved one is on a blood thinning agent to prevent clots or is on diabetic medications.

That does not mean these natural remedies can’t be used. It only means that you need to verify with their physician that the addition of these herbs will not interfere with their current medications.

These herbs and teas can be found in almost any health food store and are generally safe to use.

Using natural herbs to stop diarrhea can be very effective and safe. Herbs have been used for hundreds of years to treat a variety of illness and conditions.

If you are interested in more herbal treatments, I recommend Herbal Remedies Info , a website listing multiple herbal remedies, applications and safety data on medicinal plants.

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